Database developers or administrators are IT people who create or otherwise use software that are meant to sort out, store and manage information in such a way that these information can be easily retrieved and hard to lose, thereby adding to the productivity and efficiency measures of the company for which the database developer works for. The database that database developers form is supposed to work like a paperless filing system. The database developer is responsible for keeping this filing system accessible whenever it is needed and at the same time secure against unwanted access. The database developer is also tasked to update, back up and fine-tune the database on a regular basis. While most database developers work alone, in some companies, the database developer is made to work with a team of programmers in order to come up with a database system that is suited to the needs of the company he or she is working for.

Typical Activities of the Database Developer

The activities of the database developer often encompass the following:

1. Writing code for the database

2. Coming up with the necessary specifications for developing the code

3. Drafting the design of the database systems

4. Making sure that the database is reliable and running smoothly at all times

5. Performing administrative functions from time to time

6. Ascertaining that the integrity of the database is secure and cannot be breached

Industry Prospects for the Database Developer

Because many companies are now putting emphasis on databases rather than on paper-based filing systems, it is not unusual to find a database developer working in various field, be it in retail, in government, in schools, in financial institutions, in manufacturing â€“ in virtually any place where the maintenance of a paperless database is seen as necessary. The work of a database developer is not very demanding, and while this work requires the database developer to sit at his or her desk for most of the week, many database developers are required to travel on the job every once in a while.

In 2006, the average salary for the database developer was pegged at $79,098 annually, with bonuses amounting to around $2,466.

The Necessary Skills

A database developer needs to know the following skills:

1. Mastery of a computer language

2. SQL programming

3. Oracle DBMS

4. Data modeling and warehousing

5. Database design and administration

6. Database performance tuning

7. Database security

A critical and analytical mind is a requirement for all database developers for them to be able to come up with an accurate and efficient database system. While database developers often work alone, it is not unusual for them to be placed within teams. Thus, the ability to work and coordinate within a team, as well as the capability of communicating easily both verbally and through written documentation is a must.

Finding the Job

Database developers are entry level positions. Many colleges and universities offer internship programs in database development that gravitate naturally to being hired by the company where the internship was spent. Many job placements for database developers are also found in headhunter websites and job fairs.